Knob outer end stabilizer



June 22, 1965 J, R SELL 3,190,684

KNOB OUTER END STABILIZER Filed Oct. 8. 1962 v I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I7 I is ID a l6 l5 l9 12 QIIHSN Lk 5 Hill FRED J2 Russia/.4

' IHVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 F. J. RUSSELL 3,190,684 KNOB OUTER END STABILIZER Filed ea. ,8, 1962 2 Shqets-Sheet 2 uvwszvroa .FQED J; RUSSELL ATTORNEHS United States Patent 3,190,684 KNOB OUTER END STABILIZER 7 Fred J. Russell, 3800 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 229,152 3 Claims. (Cl. 292--347) This is a continuation-in-part of copend-ing application, Serial No. 32,874, filed May 31, 1960 now Patent 3,069,- 194, issued December 18, 1962. The invention relates to door locks and has particular reference to the mounting of a knob on a spindle in such fashion that there is a multiple stabilizing relationship provided for the knob or other type of hand-hold, such as a lever handle. More particularly, 'the invention has reference to a structure wherein the knob (or other hand-hold) is supported by the outer end of the spindle adjacent the face of the-knob as well as being supported in the customary fashion at a neck or shank of the knob or other hand-hold.

One-piece knobs for door locks have become increasingly popular but this particular type of knob has some limitations from the point of view of attachment to the spindle. Usually only the neck of such knobs engages those portions of the lock extending laterally from the door namely the spindle or the knob, and the object is to provide a sufficient length for such engagement to assist the knob in remaining stable in relation to the spindle during use. It is recognized, however, that knobs of some shapes provide a somewhat limited area of projection beyond the door, which results in a corresponding minimum amount of bearing area at the point where the neck of the knob extends rearwardly from the back of the knob and engages with the spindle or the hub. The maximum potential bearing area on the spindle must be divided between bearing area for the spindle within a hub in which it rotates and bearing area between the spindle and the neck of the knob. Any lengthening of the neck to improve the amount of area available for engagement with the spindle or the hub tends to lessen the available area of engagement between the spindle and its hub or bearing. For best operation there needs to be some balance between the two, limited, of course, by the total bearing area available.

As the weight of the knob increases or as the diameter of the neck of the knob increases, the length of the engagement remains unchanged, but the problem of maintaining stability between the knob and the spindle increases. This means that there is a greater tendency for looseness and movement or rattling of the knob. In multiple-piece knobs stability sometimes is accomplished by employment of an inner piece or pieces Within the knob which serve as a brace between the spindle and the inside of the knob. When only the neck of a knob engages the spindle or hub, the stability between the spindle or hub and the knob depends entirely upon the engagement between the neck of the knob and the spindle or the hub at a single area of support. This is often not sufiicient to provide the desired feeling of firmness and security.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved support for a knob which provides for engagement or stabilization both at the neck and at the face of the knob without employment of interior braces in the body of the knob with access means from the exterior of the knob to the interior thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved spindle and knob assembly for a door lock which provides for engagement between the outer face of the knob and the spindle as well as engagement between the neck of the knob and the spindle or hub to come quently improve stability between the two, and also to make use of the additional area of engagement as part of a structure at the central portion of the knob face.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mounting for a knob upon a spindle wherein, additional to the customary engagement of a neck on the knob With the spindle or with the hub, there being provided an opening in the knob face and a partial closure for the opening which at the same time, provides a connection between the knob face and the spindle, thereby affording a two-point support for the knob as a whole.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the invention showing a door knob in place upon a spindle at one end and on the hub at the other end, with the parts all mounted in a door.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational View of the knob of FIGURE 1 partially broken away to show the interior structure.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a second form of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a third form of the invention. 7

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end-elevational view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 partially broken away.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of still another form of the device.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the form of invention of FIGURE 1 showing one way in which a locking mechanism can be mounted in the device.

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the device as shown in FIGURE 7.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a fragment of a door 10 upon which is mounted a door lock assembly incorporated in part in a spindle 11 rot-atably supported in a hub 12 and having mounted upon the outer end a knob 13.

The spindle 11 extends outwardly from a lock mechanism (not shown, but of substantially conventional construction) through a hole 14 in the door.

The hub 12 which surrounds and provides engagement with the spindle is shown in the embodiment chosen as having a threaded connection 15 in engagementwith a threaded collar 16, the collar in turn being secured upon and bearing against a rosette or escutcheon 1'7. The collar has an exterior portion 18 which serves primarily as a decorative finish to conceal the more utilitarian portions of the hub and the edge of the knob.

The knob 13 is provided with a neck 19 extending rearwardly of the knob and telescopingly encompassing the hub 12. The appearance is improved by having the neck extend far enough to lie within the outer end of the exterior portion 18. For anchoring the knob to the spindle there is provided a substantially conventional resiliently extending detent 20 which extends outwardly through an aperture 21 in the spindle 11 and through an aligned aperture 22 in the neck 19. A leaf spring 23 retained in notches 24 in the spindle and extending through a hole 20' in the detent 20 may provide the means for holding the detent in extended position. In operative assembled position as shown in FIGURE 1, the neck and consequently the knob is anchored in position upon the spindle by use of the dentent 20 so that the knob and spindle are mutually non-rotatable. The same engagement also prevents endwise movement of the knob relative to the spindle. Further details with respect to the detent have not been included inasmuch as the detent operation is substantially conventional and well known.

In the knob 13 there is provided a central opening 25 J in a knob face 26. A closure indicated generally by the reference character 27 is mounted within the opening 25 forming .a central portion of the knob face. The closure consists of what may be described as a cap which includes an annular projection 28 which fits within the rim of the opening 25. At the inner end of the annular projection is an annular shoulder portion 29 which underlies the face 26 and which has an annular flange 30 extending inwardly therefrom. In this form of the invention the flange overlies the exterior of the outer end of the spindle rather than being positioned within the interior. The fit between the flange and the spindle may be relatively snug so that the closure will remain in position with a moderate degree of security, should the knob be removed for any reason. By providing a central bore 31 through the closure 27, provision may be made for projection therethrough of some appropriate key-operated mechanism or turn button.

By way of example only, there is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 a typical key actuated lock cylinder 37 located centrally within the outer end of the spindle having a keyway '58 at the outer end. The inner end 39 includes structure (not shown) reaching into the interior mechanism for the well known purpose of locking and unlocking an appropriate mechanism. A portion 40 of the lock cylinder extends through the central bore 31 whereby it is free to rotate when locking and unlocking the mechanism. The large inside diameter of the neck 19 provides ample clearance for application of the knob over the spindle and a pin tumbler housing 41, which lies in a slit 42 in the spindle.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGURE 3, a knob 13' is similarly provided with an outer face 26' at the center of which is an opening 25. On the spindle '11 in FIGURE 3 is a closure 32, a central portion 33 of which is continuous and effectively closes the opening 25. Here also the closure is provided with an annular outwardly facing shoulder 34 located at the base of a projection 35 and underlying the opening 25 in which the projection extends. A flange 36 extends snugly around the exterior of the spindle 11 and provides a means for mounting the closure on the spindle in a position so that when the knob 13 is in place the opening 25 will be closed by the closure.

In still another form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 4, a knob 13" is provided with an outer or end face 26" at the center of which is an opening 25", A closure 40 is shown mounted on the outer end of the spindldll. In this form a projection 41 extending outwardly from the closure falls within and fits within the opening 25". A central portion 42 of the closure 40 has a passage 43 extending therethrough into which some instrument or other, as the case may require, may be inserted to effect certain manipulation of the interior of certain locks.

At the inner end of the projection 41 is an annular shoulder 44, at the extremity of which is a flange 45 which encompasses the outer end of the spindle I1 and serves as a means of attaching the closure to the spindle.

The relationship between the knobs 13' and 13 and the spindle and with the appropriate closures is substantially the same as was described in connection with FIG- URE l where attention was directed to the knob 13 and the specific closure 27 there illustrated.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGURE 6, there is shown a slightly modified spindle 11' which may be relatively longer than the spindle 11 heretofore described. A knob 50 in this form may be of the same relatively thin wall stock as the knob previously described, the knob having a face area 51 extending entirely across the face of the knob rather than being provided with an opening which extends entirely through the face portion. Instead there is provided on the inside face of the face area 51 an opening 52 which is in essence a recess or pocket extending only partially through the face area. The opening may 'be machined or coined into the face area as might be permitted by the thickness and character of material provided. The opening 52 in any event is provided with a perimetral wall 53 having a size fitting closely around the exterior of the spindle 11' at its outermost edge. In this fashion, the knob at the face portion is provided with a bearing upon the outer end of the spindle thereby to supplement the bearing of the neck on the spindle or hub in the same manner as has already been described in connection with FIGURE 1. If need be, a passageway 54 as suggested by the dotted lines in FIGURE 6 may be provided of such size and shape as might be needed to accommodate either a lock cylinder plug, a turn button or other appropriate mechanism capable of reaching into the interior of the lock. On those occasions where the knob is mere.y for a passage set, the passage 54 can appropriately be omitted.

From the description herein set forth in connection with the closure whether of the form of FIGURES l, 3, 4, or 6, it will be clear that the outer end of the knob is secured and supported by the outer end of the spindle through the agency of a special closure which performs the double function of supporting the knob and also providing an effective closure for the central opening in the knob. The closure varies slightly depending upon whether or not the knob is used as a part of a mere passage lock as in FIGURE 3, an emergency release lock as in FIG- URE 4, or a conventional key-actuated or button operated lock as in FIGURE 1. In the case of FIGURE 3, there need be no opening through the special closure. In the case of FIGURE 4, the opening may be small so as to admit a nail or screwdriver to manipulate certain parts in the interior of the lock in a limited fashion. In the instance of FIGURE 1, the opening is large enough to permit projection therethrough of a lock cylinder plug, a turn button or some similar mechanism.

Irrespective of the specific form of the double functioning closure, the neck .of the knob is supported upon the hub in the chosen example; but in any event, there is provided in the manner shown a two-point or multiple-point support. Consequently, in devices incorporating the invention, even though the limited distance between the face of the door 10 and the bulge of the knob ordinarily would not be sutficient to provide an adequate supporting area between the spindle or hub and the neck of the knob, stabilization is not sacrificed because of the support afforded the outer face of the knob by the outer end of the spindle. Consequently, the length of the neck may be kept to a minimum, the maximum amount of the space for internal mechanisms may be provided between the knob neck and the knob face and yet the entire knob is supported at both of its extremities. The mounting of the knob accordingly on the spindle is much firmer and more satisfactory, the structural arrangement being such that it is equally well adapted to locking structures where the knob is close to the door and to those structures where the knob may be removed from the door by a considerable distance.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to 'be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a door lock having a hub, a spindle rotatably mounted in the hub, a hand-hold having a hollow interior and a neck in non rotatable engagement with the spindle, an inside wall of said neck forming a bore in communication with said hollow interior and in rotatable engagement with the exterior of said hub, a face area on the hand-hold having an opening, and a handhold face closure comprising a cap on the outer end of the spindle, at least a portion of said cap projecting through the opening and comprising a supporting connection between the outer end of the spindle and the hand-hold face, and lock-operating means having at least a portion thereof located within said spindle, and another portion thereof located exteriorly with respect to the spindle, said other portion and said spindle having an aggregate breadth no greater than the breadth of said bore of the neck at the junction thereof with said hollow interior, said supporting connection having an opening therethrough, walls of said opening having a position fixed with respect to the spindle and the hand-hold face and comprising a communicating passage between the lock-operating means and the exterior of the hand-hold face.

2. Ina door lock having a hub, a spindle rotatably mounted in the hub, a hand-hold having a hollow interior and a neck in nonrotatable engagement with the spindle, an inside wall of said neck forming a bore in communication with said hollow interior and in rotatable engagement with the exterior of said hub, and a face area on the hand-hold having an opening, and a hand-hold face closure comprising a cap on the outer end of the spindle, at least a portion of said cap projecting through the opening and forming part of the face area of a handhold, said spindle, said cap and said face area of the hand-hold being fixed in axial relationship to each other, said portion having a supporting relationship with the hand-hold face, lock-operating means having at least a portion thereof located within said spindle and another portion thereof located exteriorly with respect to the spindle, said other portion and said spindle having an aggregate breadth no greater than the breadth of said bore at the junction with said hollow interior, said cap having an opening therethrough, a wall of said opening having a position fixed with respect to the spindle and the handhold face area and comprising a communicating passage between the lock-operating means and the exterior of the hand-hold face.

=3. In a door lock having a hub, a spindle rotatably mounted in the hub, a hand-hold having :a hollow interior and a neck in nonnotatable engagement with the spindle, an inside wall of said neck forming a bore in communication with said hollow interior and in rotatable engagement with the exterior of said hub, a face area on the hand-hold having an opening, and a hand-hold face closure comprising a cap on the outer end of the spindle, said cap having an inwardly facing shoulder thereon overlying the end of the spindle and an outwardly facing centrally apertu-red annular projection on said cap projecting through the hand-hold face opening and having a supporting relationship with the handhold face, lock-operating means having at least a portion thereof located within said spindle and another portion thereof located exteriorly with respect to the spindle, said other portion and said spindle having an aggregate breadth no greater than the breadth of said bore at the junction with said hollow interior, and a wall defining said opening having a position fixed with respect to the spindle and the hand-hold and comprising a communicating passage between the lock-operating means and the exterior of the hand-hold.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,062,765 12/36 Schlage 70-2-24 2,719,424 10/ Rayburn 146 3,069,194 12/62' Russell 292-347 3,077,100 2/ 63 Gerlach 292347 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. ALBERT H. KAMPE, Examiner. 

1. IN A DOOR LOCK HAVING A HUB, A SPINDLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE HUB, A HAND-HOLD HAVING A HOLLOW INTERIOR AND A NECK IN NON ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPINDLE, AN INSIDE WALL OF SAID NECK FORMING A BORE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR AND IN ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HUB, A FACE AREA ON THE HAND-HOLD HAVING AN OPENING, AND A HANDHOLD FACE CLOSURE COMPRISING A CAP ON THE OUTER END OF THE SPINDLE, AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID CAP PROJECTING THROUGH THE OPENING AND COMPRISING A SUPPORTING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OUTER END OF THE SPINDLE AND THE HAND-HOLD FACE, AND LOCK-OPERATING MEANS HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF LOCATED WITHIN SAID SPINDLE, AND ANOTHER PORTION THEREOF LOCATED EXTERIORLY WITH RESPECT TO THE SPINDLE, SAID OTHER PORTION AND SAID SPINDLE HAVING AN AGGREGATE BREADTH NO GREATER THAN THE BREADTH OF SAID BORE OF THE NECK AT THE JUNCTION THEREOF WITH SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR, SAID SUPPORTING CONNECTING HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, WALLS OF SAID OPENING HAVING A POSITION FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE SPINDLE AND THE HAND-HOLD FACE AND COMPRISING A COMMUNICATION PASSAGE BETWEEN THE LOCK-OPERATING MEANS AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE HAND-HOLD FACE. 